Species: Theretra nessus

English Name: Yam Hawk Moth, Gold-bodied Hawk Moth

Chinese Name: 青背斜纹天蛾

Family: Sphingidae

Description:

This moth has 9-13 cm in wingspan. The abdomen has gold marks, separated by a olive dorsal line. The wings are light and dark brown. The larvae are an agricultural pest feeding on Yam. The adults are attracted to light and feeds on flowers nectar.

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References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects of Macau. Macau: University of Macau Publications Centre.

Species: Cephonodes hylas

English Name: Pellucid Hawk Moth, Bee Hawk Moth, Coffee Hawk Moth

Chinese Name: 咖啡透翅天蛾

Family: Sphingidae

Description:

This moth has 4,5-7,3 cm in wingspan. The body is greenish with a red band and yellow segments on the abdomen. The wings are clear since the scales have been lost. Unlike the majority of moths in this family, this species is active during the day.

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References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects of Macau. Macau: University of Macau Publications Centre.

Species: Agrius convolvuli

English Name: Convolvulus Hawk-moth

Chinese Name: 白薯天蛾

Family: Sphingidae

Description:

This moth has 8-10,5 cm in wingspan. The coloration is grayish except for the pink and black banded abdomen. The proboscis is very long (longer than the body) and enables adults to feed on the nectar of trumpet like flowers, such as Hybiscus, Ipomoea or Begonia. This species can be seen just before dusk hovering over the flowers.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects of Macau. Macau: University of Macau Publications Centre.

Species: Acherontia styx

English Name: Eastern Death’s-head Hawkmoth

Chinese Name: 芝麻鬼脸天蛾

Family: Sphingidae

Description:

The Eastern Death’s-head Hawkmoth gets is name from the skull like design on the dorsal side of the thorax of the female. The abdomen is banded in yellow and black. The fore wings are dark brown and the wind wings are yellow with black bars. The larvae is yellow, green or grey with blue stripes and have a spine on the dorsal side of the 6th segment.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects... Read more »

Species: Papilio polytes

English Name:  Common Mormon

Chinese Name: 玉斑鳳蝶

Family: Papilionidae

Description:

The Common Mormon has 9-10 cm in wingspan. The wings are black with white and red spots.  The fore wings have white spots at the margins. The wind wings have ridged margins and tails. Females have a broad white area with black veins. This is one of the most common species of butterfly in Macau.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects of Macau. Macau: University of Macau Publications Centre.

Species: Papilio protenor

English Name: Spangle

Chinese Name: 黑鳳蝶

Family: Papilionidae

Description:

The Spangle has about 10-13 cm in wingspan. The fore wings are dark brown with black veins. The wind wings are black with red eye spots and have a wavy edge. Females have more red-spots at the underside than males. Mature larvae are mostly green with brownish stripes and have a false head with real looking eye spot.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects of Macau. Macau: University of Macau Publications Centre.

Species: Graphium antiphates

English Name: Five-bar Swordtail

Chinese Name: 綠鳳蝶

Family: Papilionidae

Description:

This butterfly has about 7-8 cm in wingspan. The wings are white, yellowish and green with black bars and spots. The upside is a copy of the underside but paler. The hind wings have ridged margins and long tails. It is a common species on roads and forest clearings such as the hill top trail on Coloane.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects of Macau. Macau: University of Macau Publications Centre.

Species: Graphium sarpedon

English Name: Common Bluebottle, Blue Triangle

Chinese Name: 青鳳蝶

Family: Papilionidae

Description:

The Common Bluebottle has 5,5-7,5 cm in wingspan. The wings are black upperside and dark brown underside. Fore and hind wings have a blue or blue-green triangle patch, with apex pointing toward the body. This butterfly is known for quick flight and can be observed flying just above the tree canopy.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects of Macau. Macau: University of Macau Publications Centre.

Species: Ideopsis similis

English Name: Blue Glassy Tiger

Chinese Name: 旖斑蝶

Family: Nymphalidae

Description:

The Blue Glassy Tiger has about 7-8,5 cm in wingspan. The wings are velvet black in color with light blue patches. The body is black with white spots. It can be found in Macau, Taipa and Coloane through most of the year.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects of Macau. Macau: University of Macau Publications Centre.

Species: Euploea core

English Name: Common Crow

Chinese Name: 幻紫斑蝶

Family: Nymphalidae

Description:

The Common Crow has about 8-9 cm in wingspan. The wings are glossy black upperside and dark brown underside with white spots along the outer margins. The body has also white marks. The pupa is metallic in color while the larvae is white striped with hair like tentacles on the upper side. This species can be observed in Taipa and Coloane hiking trails.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Easton, E. R. (1993). The insects of Macau. Macau: University of... Read more »